‘Riverdale’: Why Lili Reinhart Says ‘I Genuinely Feel Like a Prisoner, Going Back to Work’
Actor Lili Reinhart, best known for starring in the CW drama series Riverdale, has, like many worldwide, spent the last several months not working, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Now, as she heads back to set, she’s experiencing conflicting feelings. Learn what Reinhart said in a new interview.
Lili Reinhart stars in the CW hit ‘Riverdale’
Reinhart is one of several young actors who star in Riverdale. She portrays Betty Cooper, who begins the series as the all-around good girl. Initially a cheerleader and straight A-student, Betty soon reveals her dark side and becomes a member of the Southside Serpents, joining her boyfriend, Jughead.
As is often the case on teen dramas, Reinhart is notably older than her character. Though she plays a high school student, the actor is in her 20s and has been working in entertainment since she was a teenager herself. Before she earned her breakout role in Riverdale, Reinhart had a recurring role on the short-lived sitcom Surviving Jack.
The series had to shut down due to coronavirus
Riverdale, which films in Vancouver, was among the first productions shut down in March 2020, in the pandemic’s early days. At the time, there was concern about a crew member having come in contact with someone who had tested positive for the virus.
“We are working closely with the appropriate authorities and health agencies in Vancouver to identify and contact all individuals who may have come into direct contact with our team member,” a Warner Bros. statement published in Deadline read. “Out of an abundance of caution, production on Riverdale is currently suspended.”
Reinhart has been open about her depression in quarantine
Following what was supposed to have been a short break, shooting remained on hiatus for months as the pandemic continued. Reinhart and the rest of the cast, including her ex-boyfriend, Cole Sprouse, returned home to the U.S. to wait it out. During this time, Reinhart dealt with depression, a fact she revealed in an August 2020 interview.
“Quotes taken from my most recent interview are not about a ‘breakup,'” Reinhart shared on Twitter following articles published about her and Sprouse’s split. “They are about the depression I’ve felt over these last few months. Tired of people taking my words out of context and piecing together their own story for clickbait.”
She’s conflicted about returning to filming in Canada
Reinhart will soon begin filming for Riverdale Season 5. After finishing out the planned season 4 high school arc, the show makes a move borrowed from previous CW series One Tree Hill: A time jump. And, also like other popular dramas, Riverdale’s 20+ episode seasons mean a long time on location.
“I genuinely feel like a prisoner, going back to work, because I cannot leave Canada,” said Reinhart told Nylon in an interview published on September 2, 2020. “That doesn’t feel good. You can’t go home for Thanksgiving, can’t visit your family. No one can come visit you unless they quarantine for two weeks. It just feels f*cked.”
